AEROSPACE NEWS

Stronger composites and carbon captureA nanotechnology that has been shown to enhance the strength of certain ceramic matrix composites, to provide a surface for the physisorption of molecular hydrogen and to act as a very sensitive sensor platform for industrial applications has attracted the attention of 3M.

Biomass automotive compositesA biomass composite that is more than 80% plant source has been developed for use in automotive door panels by Japan?s JPS.It consists of polylactic acid (PLA) foam for the interior parts and a cellulose fibre reinforcedbiomass unsaturated polyester resin for external parts.

Landmark year for bioplasticsGlobal bioplastics production capacity will more than double from 2010 to 2015 and capacity is scheduled to pass the one million tonne mark before the end of this year.

China?s latest Five Year Plan a boost for CostinIn line with the Chinese government?s Twelfth Five Year Plan, which is encouraging the green economy and will enable new recycled materials to become a key industry, Hong Kong-headquartered Costin New Materials is to vastly increase its capacity for both recycled fibres and nonwovens, and is also exploring new applications in composites.

Alternative polyester batches producedAvantium has successfully started up its pilot plant for the production, development and testing of bio-based polyesters, such as PEF (poly-ethylene-furanoate), at its Chemelot site in Geleen, the Netherlands.

Recognition for Total EcosolutionFireBlock fire resistant resins and gelcoats gained Total Group company Cray Valley an innovation award in the material category at the recent 2011 JEC Composites show in Paris.

Food and water compliant new resinA new composite resin developed for use in composites that have contact with food and water is being introduced by DSM.Atlac 5200 FC is a vinyl ester resin that is fully compliant with the European regulations on food contact and is made in line with commonly accepted good manufacturing practices for the food industry.

Cradle-to-Cradle Akulon for office furnitureDSM Engineering Plastics is commercially launching its Akulon K224-G6 grade PA6 for office furniture as the first and only polyamide certified Cradle-to-Cradle grade by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC).

Spotlight on flax at JECNew applications for flax-based composites continue to be found, and many examples will be on show at the CELC stand within the JEC Composites show which is taking place at Porte de Versailles in Paris from March 29-31.

Huge potential of fly ashComposite metal foams that can replace solid aluminum and magnesium have the potential to keep millions of tons of toxic waste out of landfills while improving performance and lowering the cost of some automotive and consumer products.

Tecnaro adds Mirel bioplasticGerman developer and manufacturer of sustainable thermoplastics and composites Tecnaro is now incorporating Mirel bioplastic into its Arboblend range of thermoplastic compounds that are biodegradable in certain environments, including industrial composting and anaerobic digestion systems.

Sustainable South Pole missionA CO2-neutral vehicle running on solar energy ? with bodywork consisting in part of TenCate composites ? will embark on a trip to the South Pole in January 2012.

Made of plants with perfect surfacesThe material developed by Hong-Kong based Bioserie for its latest iPhone 4 protective covers is said to be one of the highest-performing all-plant based bioplastic composite resins in the world.

Bio-based materials examined at the 2nd IICSComposites are now poised for mass production, but the use of bio-based materials has not yet met expectations, delegates at the 2nd Innovative International Composites Summit (IICS) will hear.

Just add water!Among speakers at the forthcoming 8th Conference of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) will be Richard Hurding of Zelfo Technology in GermanyPatented fibre technology developed by Zelfo transforms 100% renewable or recycled cellulose fibres into self-binding structures, with much potential for use in composites.

China?s bioplastics ? for sale to the WestChina?s biodegradable plastics industry has developed rapidly, but its domestic consumption is just a fraction of what it is producing, according to a new report, which doesn?t even begin to highlight the potential for use in fields like composites.

New blends with starch and flourWacker Chemie AG is now able to combine starch or flour with its Vinnex binding agents to create polymer blends for plastics and composites that will biodegrade entirely under industrial composting conditionsSuitable uses for these new products include materials for packaging, catering products, gardening and landscaping and they can be processed in the same way as petroleum-based materials.

Biocomposites boom in Europe predictedThe share of biofibres in the European composites industry could climb from 13% today to around 28% by 2020, if recent forecasts prove accurate.This would represent an increase in their production of around 315,000 tonnes in 2010to 830,000 tonnes by 2020.

Glass replacement target for GreenCoreGreenCore Composites based in Toronto, Canada, has secured new financing to continue the development and commercial launch of its NCell natural fibre composites which target the replacement or reduction of materials such as glass fibres in structural and semi-structural applications.

EU must include biocomposites in the equationThe European Hemp Association (EIHA) has issued a statement urging that biocomposites and natural fibres be included in European talks currently taking place on the future of the EU bioindustry.

Recyclable Evolite CFRPsEvolite by Technyl, an extensively patented range of polyamide-based continuous fibre reinforced materials from Rhodia, made its debut at the K 2010.The family of thermoplastic composites are aimed at transportation, industrial and consumer applications for achieving an essential between lightweight and performance.

New colour masterbatch choices from ClariantWith the addition of a new line of masterbatches that comply with standards governing compostability and ecotoxicity, producers of products and packaging made from biopolymers have a wider range of options in colour and performance-enhancing additives.

Expansion and innovation at SaertexSaertex ? the winner of the 2010 AVK Innovation Award for its new SAERfix EP fabrics for composites ? is to carry out a $6.5 million expansion at its facility in Huntersville, North Carolina, USA, creating 178 new jobs.

Dutch pilot plant for YXY furanicsAvantium has started construction of a pilot plant at its Chemelot site in Geleen, the Netherlands to produce YXY-branded building blocks for making green materials and fuels.

Top award for weight reduction carbon coatingA coating that enables engineers to specify lighter weight carbon composite materials for harsh environment applications has won the 2010 Plastic Industry Best Technology Application of the Year Award.

Palapreg ECO recognitionDSM Composite Resin?s 55% bio-based resin Palapreg ECO has recently won two innovation awards.Frost & Sullivan awarded the resin its New Product Innovation Award in the Automotive Industry prize for responding to the key industry challenge in reduction of the harmful impact of fossil-based raw materials to the environment.

?Black box? nesting for simple processingJetcam International will launch its CrossTrack order, material, ply and kit management software suite at the forthcoming Composites Engineering Show at the NEC in the UK from September 29-30.

Japan?s NEC Corporation has developed durable new bioplastic derived from non-edible plant resources.

It is created by bonding cellulose with cardanol ? a primary component of cashew nut shells ? and is said to achieve a level of durability making it suitable for electronic equipment, while boasting a plant content of more than 70%.

New MRP/ERP software supplied by 123insight to the UK?s Synergy Composites will provide management of the company?s complete business cycle ? from quotations through manufacturing to delivery and invoicing, while also closely monitoring the life of prepreg material in storage.

Bioplastics and Europe 2020With effective legislative support, the use of bioplastics in Europe could climb from being 0.5% to 5% of the overall market, the European Bioplastics Association believes.

Weight savings on iceThe original Viking ice skates were cow or horse bones tied on the feet with leather cords. Now today?s leading ice skates manufacturer Viking of the Netherlands, has replaced various aluminium components in its latest range with 60% glass filled Ashland Akulon Ultraflow K-FG12 BLK supplied by DSM.

VDMA sets up Composite Technology NetworkGermany's VDMA has formed a new network for machinery manufacturers engaged in the development and production of technologies for the manufacture and quality control of composite materials.

New natural fibre compoundsItalian company SO.F.TER is launching a new range of polyolefin-based compounds reinforced with flax, sisal and hemp fibres as a replacement for traditional mineral fillers.

New recycling plant for PlaconPlacon Corporation, a thermoformer and plastic sheet extruder based in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, USA, is to construct a closed-loop recycling facility to grind and wash post-consumer bottles and thermoforms for processing into its EcoStar sheet products.

Ohio plan for multi-tasking composites Nano Adaptive Hybrid Fabric (NAHF-X) enables composites to be tailored for such properties as electrical and thermal conductivity, chemical and biological sensing, energy storage and conversion, thermal management or other properties.

UltraFibre aiming for cleaner EU fibresA thirteen-strong European consortium is carrying out new research into the development of a hydro-acoustic radial cell decortication process for the clean, continuous, high volume production of high quality natural fibres such as flax and hemp.

Next stage for bioplastics?After four years of intensive research and development involving chemical engineers and scientists from around the world, Solegear Bioplastics, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has announced the market readiness of Polysole.

Lignin route to carbon fibresWashington, US-based company Weyerhaeuser has patented a method for converting commercially derived lignin as a potential new source of raw materials for carbon fibres.

Avantium launches YXY affordable furanicsDutch company Avantium is introducing YXY as a new green building block for materials and fuels which it believes will contribute significantly to the green economy by delivering on both price and performance.

Germany self-sufficient in industrial renewablesA total of 47.9 million tonnes of renewable raw materials were used for their material properties by German manufacturing industry in 2007. Of this, 3.6 million tonnes was provided by agricultural crops (excluding straw), while wood accounted for 44.3 million tonnes. In addition, six million tonnes of cereal straw were used, particularly in agriculture. In contrast, a total of 10.1 million tonnes of agricultural materials and 32.6 million tonnes of wood ? a total of 42.7 million tonnes ? was used for energy purposes.::r

Biomaterials, not bioenergy A new study from Germany?s Nova Institute reveals that higher resource efficiency, climate protection, the improved security of raw material supplies and employment benefits could all be achieved through the increased use of agricultural and forest products as raw materials for composites, plastics and other industrial products.

Call for more bioplastics researchThere needs to be significant research carried out to understand the impact of bioplastics on the environment, food production, manufacturing and recycling, says PETCORE, the Brussels-based body which promotes PET recycling.

Algae resins on trackCereplast reports that it expects to offer the first grade of algae plastics for commercial use by the end of the year. The algae-based resins represent a breakthrough in industry technology and have the potential to replace 50% or more of the petroleum content used in traditional plastic resins.

First service for flax at JECA flax yarn-based prepreg material for vibration damping in sports applications received the 2010 JEC Composites Innovation Award for Bio-based Materials.

Record-breaking JECThe JEC Composites show, which took place from April 13-15 in Paris, achieved record attendance, with a 34% increase in visitors to over 27,500.::r

Natural showcase at JECThe advantages of natural fibres in composites will again be showcased by CELC ? the European Confederation of Flax and Hemp ? at the forthcoming JEC Composites Show in Paris from April 13-15.

Agenda for growthAttendees at the forthcoming 3rdInternational Congress on Bio-based Plastics and Composites, which takes place at the Hannover Messe in Germany from April 20-21, will hear that double-digit growth continues to be achieved for these materials, despite the economic crisis.